I’m mad as hell. I have been mad all damn day. Why do you ask? Over a stupid awards show that in no way affects me, or does it?
The Oscar nominations were just announced. In my youth, I was very big on the Oscars. I tried to watch as many of the nominees as I could and enjoyed the pageantry of the event a great deal. I really looked forward to it.
Over the last decade or so, I have tuned in randomly to watch the actual event and have seen less and less of the nominated films. You know, motherhood will do that.
Still, I always look at the nominations when they are released. I was actually kind of looking forward to them this year. My reason in one word: Barbie. Fuck, I loved that movie. Seriously, it was perfect.
Perfect if you are a woman. If you are a man, you are either too stupid to get the point or too insecure to validate it. Fuck you all.
In short, the writer and director Greta Gerwig—an amazingly successful and talented woman—was totally snubbed and did not get a best director nomination. Margot Robbie was also overlooked in the best actress category. Yet, somehow the academy found it in their hearts to give a nomination to Ryan Gosling who played Ken. WTF!?
Seriously y’all, this is the entire point of the whole damn movie. Art imitating life? Perhaps.
I know I’m menopausal and can really only think of about 10 men I like and/or respect right now, but this has me spitting nails, as my granny would say. Total horse shit at its finest.
Spoiler alert here if you have not seen Barbie. I should have known this was going to happen when I read numerous men involved in the production wanted to cut one of the most (if not the most) important scenes in the movie. It was the scene where Barbie is in the real world and is sitting on a bench next to an old woman. Barbie looks at her hard, sees all of her glorious wrinkles, which she no doubt earned, and says, “You’re beautiful.” The woman simply replies, “I know.” Dammit! That needs to be every woman’s response. Where is that world!? I need that world.
My husband called me in the middle of my outrage and told me he just heard a piece on NPR and they basically echoed my thoughts. Thank goodness for NPR.
I’m just so tired of the crap. I’m too old for it and I don’t want it for my daughter.
Unlike me, my daughter Josie, never played with a Barbie. Whenever she got one as a gift, she gave it away. My sister and I LOVED Barbies. They were everything. Even though Josie and I viewed the toy differently, she loved the movie and said it might be her all-time favorite. That made me so happy. She got it.
I know awards don’t mean shit. However, they do prove even though we have come a long way, there is still so much further to go.
Know this, Greta and Margot, if you called me right now and said, “Let’s roll,” I would grab my purse and be standing on my front porch waiting to ride into Hollywood with you amazing women and burn the whole damn town down to the ground. I got your back.
Equality for women. I know I won’t see it in my lifetime, but dammit, I hope my daughter does. It is long overdue and I think men have had their shot. Another spoiler: they certainly are not batting a thousand. Move over, I’m pretty sure all the brilliant women out there got this. Yes, I’m looking and you Greta and Margot, and of course my brilliant daughter, Josie. Take the torch. Get the job done. Now is your time!
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
